Financial Aid
Athletic scholarships are not entitlements. They are initially
awarded based upon athletics ability and on the condition that the
recipient satisfy academic eligibility requirements and participate
in the sport for the entire award period. After fulfilling the
award period, an athletic scholarship may be renewed, non-renewed,
or reduced based upon the recommendation of the head coach.
Non-athletic scholarships are awarded conditionally and renewed
only afer the student has satisfied specific criteria established
by the awarding agency. It is consistent and reasonable to expect
that student-athletes be required to meet minimum athletic
standards before athletic aid is renewed for subsequent years.
Summary Of NCAA Legislation
- Award Period. Athletic scholarships may not be awarded or guaranteed for a period longer than one academic year nor for a period that would exceed the student's five-year period of eligibility but may be renewed on an annual basis for a maximum of four years.
- Criteria for Non-Renewal. While specific criteria exists for reducing or cancelling financial aid during the award period, there are no corresponding criteria for renewal or non-renewal beyond the one-year award period. The decision to renew or not renew and the criteria for making such decisions are left to each institution.
- Maximum Scholarship Limit. Each team is limited to a maximum number of athletic scholarships.
- Notification Requirement. Student-athletes with eligibility remaining must be notified in writing annually, not later than July 1, whether their athletic scholarship will be renewed, non-renewed, or renewed but reduced.
- Hearing Opportunity. A student-athlete whose aid is not renewed or whose aid is reduced, must be notified in writing by the Director of Financial Aid that he/she has the opportunity to a hearing before an institutional committee composed of individuals outside the athletics department.
- Consequences of a Successful Appeal. If a student-athlete's appeal is successful, financial aid will be restored in the amount received the previous year and count against team financial aid limits. However, team membership and participation opportunities will remain the decision of the head coach. In cases where a successful appeal places the institution over the NCAA scholarship limit in that sport, the institution will be penalized with the loss of twice the number of scholarships (or equivalencies) the subsequent year.
Standards For Renewal
While NCAA legislation permits non-renewal (or reduction) for any reason, the Mercer Athletic Department has developed general criteria for non-renewal (or reduction). An athletics scholarship may be non-renewed (or reduced) for any of the following reasons:
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Failure to satisfy NCAA, Southern Conference, or MU eligibility requirements by the end of the award period;
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Failure to develop athletic skill levels established by the head coach;
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Poor academic performance (i.e. less than a 2.00 cum. GPA or % of degree deficiency);
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Poor class attendance;
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Misconduct involving criminal law, or institutional, departmental, or team rules;
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Possession or use of illegal or banned substances or the failure to report for a scheduled institutional or NCAA drug test;
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Unexcused absences from scheduled contests, practices, meetings, or conditioning;
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Failure to make a conscientious effort to improve strength and conditioning or rehabilitate an injury; and
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When continued participation would pose a safety risk to the student-athlete's health.*
* Students who experience a career ending injury (or illness) in which a medical exemption is granted by the Southern Conference will have their athletic scholarship renewed within NCAA limits (total of 10 semesters of aid) as long as he/she does not violate the conditions outlined above.
